Irish trio seek a lift in Memphis

GOLF: Rory McIlroy will have no trouble recognising his playing partners in the opening two rounds of the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis this week – they are Graeme McDowell and Pádraig Harrington.

The three Irishmen have travelled to the event seeking a boost in confidence ahead of the US Open. McIlroy, defending champion in San Francisco, has missed his last three halfway cuts, Harrington is 96th in the world after missing three of his last four cuts and McDowell made an early exit from his last start at the BMW PGA Championship two weeks ago.

Wiggins still holds lead

CYCLING: A powerful uphill surge gave Spanish climber Dani Moreno victory in stage two of the Criterium du Dauphine yesterday while Briton Bradley Wiggins repelled late challenges to keep his overall lead after finishing ninth. Irishman Daniel Martin continued to race despite suffering the after-effects of a crash on Monday, but dropped down to last spot.

Boxers’ final warm-up

BOXING: Ireland’s male boxers departed for their last competitive outing today \[e.ryan\](June 6) ahead of the start of the Olympic Games next month.

Irish 2012 Olympians Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan, John Joe Nevin, Adam Nolan and Darren O’Neill have been named in a nine-strong squad for a round-robin tournament in Calais, France.\[Roddy Hyland\]World champion Katie Taylor, who has also qualified for London, will not be taking part in the tournament, which will see Ireland meet France, Germany, Morocco and Sweden.

Joe Ward along with David Oliver Joyce, Ross Hickey and Steven Ward. The former who is hoping to get an invitation place for London 2012, but is anxiously hoping for an Olympic invitation, has also been named in the Irish panel.